When Childish Gambino dropped Awaken, My Love! in full two weeks ago, its most glaring influence was George Clinton’s Parliament and Funkadelic groups, especially on the stretch from “Have Some Love” to “Riot,” the latter which directly had a sample of a Funkadelic song.
Some may call it a rip off, and some may call it a homage, but either way, George Clinton is happy Gambino and others are making funk music in 2016.
“I just heard it [Awaken, My Love] one time and I like the songs,” Clinton told HipHopDX. “I’m aware of his music and know he’s into P-Funk so I know it’s going to be some good music. I haven’t had a chance to get all the way into it. When I did hear it, it sounded like a cross between P-Funk and Prince influence. I’m proud that he’s into the funk and glad him and others are bringing some new funk back.”
He noted that P-funk music has gone international since his day, but the West Coast has kept the funk alive and well over the years. “The West Coast stays toward a certain style of P-Funk, but P-Funk music is really all over the world,” he said.
Clinton released a remix of Funkadelic’s “Ain’t That Funkin’ Kinda Hard On You” with Kendrick Lamar and Ice Cube earlier this year in addition to linking with Flying Lotus, Thundercat and Shabazz Palaces on their single, “The Lavishments of Light Looking,” over the last year-plus. A new Funkadelic album should arrive sometime next year.
